I grew up in Europe, surrounded by formal gardens where every hedge was sculpted to perfection and every border told a story. My grandfather was a gardener for a historic estate, and I spent my childhood watching him transform chaos into order with nothing but patience and a pair of shears.

When I arrived in Melbourne 20 years ago, I was struck by how different the climate was—but also how much potential there was. Melbourne gardens had space, light, and clients who truly cared about quality. I started with a ute, a few tools, and one client in Toorak who gave me a chance.

That first client is still with us today. In fact, 95% of our original clients are still on our books. I think it's because we never compromise—same team, same standards, every single visit. No cowboys, no shortcuts, just people who genuinely care about making your garden the best it can be.

These days, I'm less in the field and more focused on training the team, building client relationships, and staying ahead of horticultural trends. But I still get my hands dirty every week—it's in my blood. There's nothing quite like the smell of freshly cut box hedge on a winter morning.